Belinda Karahalios facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belinda Karahalios
Karahalios in July 2018
President of the New Blue Party of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office October 12, 2020
Leader	Jim Karahalios
Preceded by	Position established
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Cambridge
In office June 7, 2018 – May 3, 2022
Preceded by	Kathryn McGarry
Succeeded by	Brian Riddell
Personal details
Born	Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Political party	New Blue
Other political affiliations	Progressive Conservative (2018–2020)
Spouse	Jim Karahalios
Children	1
Residence	Cambridge, Ontario
Occupation	Politician healthcare consultant
Portfolio	Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services (2018–2019), Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General (2019–2020)

Belinda Carmen Karahalios is a Canadian politician. She served as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the area of Cambridge in Ontario, Canada. She was an MPP from 2018 to 2022.

Karahalios was first elected in 2018 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. However, she was later removed from this party in July 2020. This happened because she voted against a bill called Bill 195. This bill would have allowed the government to keep emergency powers for a long time without asking the legislature. She then finished her term as a member of the New Blue Party of Ontario. This party was co-founded by her and is led by her husband, Jim Karahalios. In the 2022 election, she was not re-elected.

Belinda Karahalios's Political Journey

Belinda Karahalios won the election in the Cambridge area in 2018. On June 29, 2018, she was chosen to be a special assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Later, on June 20, 2019, she became a special assistant to the Solicitor General.

Working for Fair Elections

On November 26, 2019, Karahalios introduced a new bill called Bill 150. Its full name was the Ensuring Transparency and Integrity in Political Party Elections Act, 2019. This bill aimed to make it illegal for anyone in Ontario to cheat in internal party elections. She brought this bill forward because some people, including her husband, had claimed there was cheating in past party elections. The bill was supported by everyone in its second reading and is now waiting for its final vote.

Standing Up Against Bill 195

Karahalios was removed from the Progressive Conservative party by its leader, Doug Ford. This happened after she voted against Bill 195, known as the Reopening Ontario Act. This bill would have given the government more emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karahalios voted against it because she believed it gave the government too much power and was not good for democracy.

Starting a New Party

Belinda Karahalios and her husband, Jim Karahalios, together started a new political group called the New Blue Party of Ontario.

Rules and the Legislative Assembly

In December 2021, Karahalios was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly. This was because she did not show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. She had a negative COVID-19 test, but it was not accepted because of a rule about recent positive tests.

Views on Housing Rules

Karahalios also shared her thoughts on Bill 184. This bill changed the Residential Tenancies Act. It removed rent control for some newer rental homes. Rent control helps keep rent prices from going up too much. During a meeting, she said she was concerned about landlords being unfairly criticized. She mentioned that both tenants and landlords can have difficult experiences. She also spoke about small landlords who might have problems with some tenants.

After the Elections

Belinda Karahalios was not re-elected in the 2022 provincial election. She also ran for a spot on the Cambridge City Council in the 2022 local elections, but she did not win.

About Belinda Karahalios

Belinda Karahalios is married to Jim Karahalios. He is a lawyer and started groups like "Axe The Carbon Tax." Belinda Karahalios has a mixed background, with family from Trinidad and Portugal.

Election Results